Soccer Training Shoe Cover and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a sleeve to be worn over a soccer shoe, with indicia in two distinct regions of an instep, indicia on an outstep, and indicia on a top region constructed and arranged for teaching soccer skills and a method of using the sleeve to teach soccer.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/975,237 filed Sep. 26, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a shoe cover for soccer training having:

a flexible sleeve constructed and arranged to fit over a shoe, wherein said flexible sleeve is positioned on said shoe between a heel portion and a toe portion of said shoe; and a plurality of indicia on said sleeve indicate areas in which a soccer ball should be contacted. The sleeve has indicia that are positioned on the top, instep, and outstep. The sleeve is placed over a shoe and positioned/aligned between a heel portion and a toe portion of a shoe.

The flexible sleeve has a top portion. The indicia on the top portion is positioned substantially within a quadrant positioned toward the instep from a longitudinal center line along said top portion and closer to a ankle region of a latitudinal center line along said top portion.

The indicia located along the side instep region of the flexible sleeve comprises a first indicia and a second indicia. The first indicia is positioned on said instep region between a big toe and the proximal edge of the ball of the big toe. The second indicia is positioned on a foot between a heel region and a region substantially proximal to a ball of the big toe. The sleeve also has indicia placed on the outstep of the flexible sleeve.

In one embodiment, the sleeve is substantially circular and straps that are integral with the flexible sleeve are continuous and do not require any closing mechanism.

In an alternative embodiment, the straps may disconnect and be secured by hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro®₁ snaps, buckles, buttons, and the like.

The present invention is also a method for teaching soccer comprising the steps of:

a. providing a right foot sleeve and a left foot sleeve, each sleeve constructed and arranged having indicia for each respective foot; b. placing each of said sleeves over a shoe such that toes of said shoe are exposed and each sleeve wraps around a majority of top of each shoe; c. instructing a person wearing said sleeves as to the use of said indicia for particular aspect of soccer.

The method has each sleeve constructed and arranged with two distinct indicia regions on an instep.

Additionally, the method has each sleeve with indicia on a top region that is substantially within a quadrant closer to a heel region and an instep.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the sleeve of the invention positioned on a shoe.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the outstep of the sleeve of the invention positioned on a shoe.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the instep of the sleeve of the invention positioned on a shoe.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the sleeve of the invention positioned on a shoe.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the sleeve of the invention positioned on a shoe.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the sleeve of the invention positioned on a shoe.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the sleeve with the shoe cut away to show placement of the sleeve in relation to the parts of a foot.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the sleeve on respective left and right shoes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Sleeve 10 is constructed and arranged to be positioned around the perimeter of shoe 12. Sleeve 10 has a top region 14 an outstep zone 18 a first instep zone 20 and a second instep zone 22. Sleeve 10 has a forward strap 24 and rear strap 26 as shown in FIG. 4.

Sleeve 10 is constructed and arranged of any suitable material that includes, but is not limited to, rubber, plastics, polymers, combinations thereof, and the like. Sleeve 10 in a preferred embodiment is formed of a single unitary piece of material such that it is positioned about the perimeter of shoe 12. A preferred material is silicone rubber. In a preferred embodiment, the total thickness comprising the flexible sleeve and indicia is about 1.8 mm. The sleeve is between about 0.5-1.5 mm, preferably about 1.0 mm thick. The flexible sleeve should have a hardness of Shore A durometer of 30 degree and tensile strength up to about 400%.

Sleeve 10 has a top region 14 that is divided into quadrants 30, 32, 34, and 36. Line A-A divides top region 14 longitudinally into two substantially equal halves. Line B-B divides top region 14 latitudinally into substantially equal halves. Quadrants 34 and 36 are closer to the toes of shoe 12 and quadrants 30 and 32 are closer to the foot opening or ankle region of shoe 12. Quadrant 34 represents the quadrant positioned closest to the heel region of shoe 12 and to the side of a center line A-A in the direction of a shoe instep.

Quadrant 34 has surface indicia to indicate an optimum area in which shoe 12 should contact a soccer ball for the best results of a kick. Indicia, as used herein, refer to a visual surface that is ascertainable when viewed. The indicia do not need to be textured or raised, although it may be textured or raised as desired for aesthetics. The indicia do not assist in the physical manipulation of the ball except as to providing a visual guide as to optimal regions in which to strike a soccer ball. The indicia is substantially within quadrant 34. Substantially within is intended to mean that more than about fifty percent of any indicia on top region 14 is positioned within quadrant 34.

Sleeve 10 has an outstep zone with indicia extending from the area behind the toes to the area in front of the ankle and including substantially all of the interface with the bottom of the shoe along the sole.

Sleeve 10 has two zones 20 and 22 along the instep side of shoe 12. First instep zone 20 is closer to the toes of shoe 12 and second instep zone 22 is closer to the ankle. Each of first instep zone 20 and second instep zone 22 are identified with surface indicia to indicate the area and boundary of each respective zone. Preferably, each of said indicia is distinct so as to readily ascertain the area and boundary of each respective zone. Preferably, the distinctness of each indicia region is ascertainable by color differences. Each indicia region may have one or more colors that visually differentiate the various regions.

As shown in FIG. 71 second instep zone 22 is positioned on the side of shoe 12. For purposes of explanation, proximal refers to the direction towards an ankle region, and distal refers to the direction towards the toes. Second instep zone 22 is an optimum zone for the instep kicking of a soccer ball. Ankle region 46 has an ankle arch interface 48 that is substantially the vertical interface between ankle region 46 and foot arch region 44. This ankle arch interface is substantially at the distal edge of the fat pad covering the calcaneous bone of the foot. A typical big toe 40 has a proximal region 42 properly called the head of the first metatarsal and typically referred to as a ball of a big toe. The ball-arch interface 50 is substantially between the ball of the big toe 42 and foot arch region 44. Second instep zone 22 is positioned on shoe 12 such that the proximal edge of second instep zone 22 is substantially congruous with ankle-arch interface 48 and the distal edge of second instep zone 22 is substantially congruous with ball-arch interface 50.

Second instep zone 22 is an area in which a person training to play soccer is taught to strike the ball. Second instep zone 22 is an optimal region in which a person is to stop, trap, or pass a soccer ball. The combined area encompassing first instep zone 20 and second instep zone 22 is used for indicating area in which downfield kicking and bending of soccer ball is facilitated.

Indicia in quadrant 34 of top region 14 are used for indicating an area to provide powerful downfield kicking. Outer zone 18 is the region used for passing with an outstep kick and for bending a kicked soccer ball with an outward trajectory.

The method of the present invention provides for a right shoe 52 and left shoe 54 that each have sleeve 10 constructed and arranged as described herein. Sleeve 10 constructed and arranged for a left shoe has instep, top, and outstep zones for a left foot and sleeve 10 constructed and arranged for a right shoe has instep, top, and outstep zones for a right foot. The soccer teaching in the method comprises instructions relating to each indicia region and how each region is used in controlling a soccer ball.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A shoe sleeve for soccer training comprising: a. a flexible sleeve constructed and arranged to fit over a shoe, wherein said flexible sleeve is positioned on said shoe between a heel portion and a toe portion of said shoe; b. a plurality of indicia on said sleeve indicating areas in which a soccer ball should be contacted.
 2. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said indicia are positioned on the top, instep, and outstep of said sleeve and are aligned between a heel portion and a toe portion of a shoe.
 3. The sleeve of claim 1 comprising a top portion on said flexible sleeve.
 4. The sleeve of claim 3 wherein indicia on said top portion is positioned substantially within a quadrant positioned toward the instep from a longitudinal center line along said top portion and closer to a toe portion of a latitudinal center line along said top portion.
 5. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said indicia located along said instep region of said flexible sleeve comprises a first indicia and a second indicia.
 6. The sleeve of claim 5 wherein said first indicia is positioned on said instep region between a big toe and a ball of said big toe.
 7. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said second indicia is positioned on a foot between a heel region and a region substantially proximal to a ball of a big toe.
 8. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said indicia is placed on an outstep of a shoe.
 9. A method for teaching soccer comprising the steps of: a. providing a right foot sleeve and a left foot sleeve, each sleeve constructed and arranged having indicia for each respective foot; b. placing each of said sleeves over a shoe such that toes of said shoe are exposed and each sleeve wraps around a majority of top of each shoe; c. instructing a person wearing said sleeves as to the use of said indicia for particular aspect of soccer.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein each sleeve has two distinct indicia regions on an instep.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein each sleeve has indicia on a top region that is substantially within a quadrant closer to a heel region and an instep. 